Apparatus for cleaning catch basins



Dec. 1, 1942. w. OTTERSON APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CATCH BAS INS Filed Feb. 5, 1940 4 7- 7-b A E Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNETED STATES'PATEN'E QFEIQE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CATCH BASINS George W. Otterson, Portland, Oreg.

Application February 5, 1940, Serial No. 317,287

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for cleaning sewer catch basins and the like, and has particular reference to portable self-contained apparatus for removing material from catch basins and the like and transporting such material to a place of disposal.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable apparatus for cleaning catch basins and the like.

A further object is to provide an improved arrangement in portable catch basin cleaning apparatus for separating the solid material from the liquid for convenient disposal.

A still further object is to provide an improved rear dumping vehicle tank body in which provision is made for withdrawing water substantially free of solid material from said tank for continued re-circulation in pumping operations incident to the cleaning of catch basins and. the like.

These and other objects which will be apparent to one skilled in the art are accomplished by means of the apparatus described in the following specification and illustrated in the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle tank body and its associated pumping unit forming the subject matter of the present invention, located in operating relationship to a catch basin, certain parts being shown in section and certain parts being omitted for clearness.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the rear portion of the vehicle tank body in normal position with the tail gate closed.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, but showing the positions of the parts when the truck tank body is tilted into dumping position and the tail gate open.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, with certain parts broken away.

Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the complete apparatus of Figure 1 mounted on a truck chassis, with the tank body tilted into dumping position.

Figure 6 illustrates a modified form of separating screen installed in a truck tank body, certain parts being broken away for clearness.

The subject matter of the present invention is intended for use in catch basin cleaning apparatus in which a pumping unit operating upon the hydraulic ejector principle is lowered into the bottom of the catch basin to forcibly remove liquid and solid material therefrom and deposit the same in a tank body on a vehicle such as a motor truck or the like. The motor truck carrying-thetankbody also-carries apumping unitfor operating the hydraulic ejector pump and for operating a high pressure line for cleaning and flushing out the catch basin to facilitate the removal of the solid contents thereof. Such mobile apparatus is adapted to be driven from one manhole to the next, where it may be parked adjacent the manhole and the catch basin cleaned by the action just described. The pumping operation causes the solid material to be deposited in a compartment of the truck tank body, and makes the liquid available for repeated use, as the apparatus becomes engaged in successively cleaning a plurality of catch basins. When a predetermined load of solid material has been accumulated in the truck, the tank may be emptied at a place provided for such purpose, and the tank body refilled with water for another series of cleaning operations.

It is to be understood, then, that the apparatus shown in perspective in Figure l is to be carriedupon a truck chassis in the manner illustrated in Figure 5; so that when the truck is stopped on the pavement l adjacent a manhole 2 the hydraulic ejector pump unit may be lowered through the manhole to the bottom ofthe catch basin 3 in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

A power unit A, which may comprise an independent gasoline motor, may be mounted generally in the position indicated, that is, between the truck tank body and the cab of the truck. The motor 4 is employed to drive a centrifugal pump 5 which supplies the hydraulic pressure for operating the hydraulic ejector pump which functions at the bottom of the catch basin. Water for the pump 5 is obtained from the intake pipe 6 connecting with the outlet opening 1 in the bottom of the truck tank body 8. A suitable silt-tight walled enclosure 9 may be provided around the outlet 1 and may carry on its upper side a screen H to prevent coarse material from passing into the pump.

In order to permit the tank body 8 to be tilted in the manner illustrated in Figure 5 without having to uncouple and recouple the line leading from the tank to the pump, the outlet 1 is combined with an intake member l2 on the frame of the vehicle in such manner that these parts separate automatically when the tank is raised, and alternately reengage to form a tight joint when the body is restored to its normal position. The parts are shown in normal position in Figure 4. In the preferred construction a conduit section I3 is secured rigidly to one side of the truck frame by means of a bracket id, and a short vertical tube 15 having -a frusto-conic-al head I6 is mounted with a tight sliding joint therein. A stout spring I! interposed between the head 16 and the fixed conduit section l3 tends to press the tube l upward and to permit it to yield downward. The head It is guided in a flaring mouth 18 of the outlet 1 and normally bears against a gasket i9 whereby a tight joint is insured. When the tank is tilted the spring I! raises the tube [5 slightly, it being understood, however, that the tube is held against disengagement from the fixed conduit section I3 by a suitable stop indicated at 2|, and when the tank is again lowered the spring permits the tube to yield downward while finding a tight seat upon the tank outlet. The spring also takes up vibration during the running. of the vehicle, thus preventing injury and leakage which would be likely to occur with a rigid connection. Valves 22 and 23 may be provided as illustrated in Figure 1, if desired, and the extension 24 may be provided for draining the equipment. An additional valve, not shown, may be provided in the outlet 1 to prevent escape of fluid from the tank body 8 after the seal I6, I8 has been broken by tilting of the tank body.

The discharge side of the pump 5 provides liquid under considerable pressure for two different pressure lines. The pressure line 25, having a control valve 26, is provided with a flexible hose 2'! and an elongated nozzle 28, so that a high pressure stream of water may be projected from said nozzle toward the sides and bottom of a catch basin to loosen accumulations therein. The high pressure line 29 connects with the flexible hose 3| which supplies the hydraulic pressure for operating the ejector pump 32 shown at the bottom of the catch basin. In the ejector pump 32 the high pressure, high velocity stream from the hose 3| is directed upwardly through a restricted passage, whereby a reduced pressure is created in said passage, creating what is commonly termed a suction action in the mouth or intake 33. Such suction action is strong enough to lift solid material in the bottom of the catch basin and raise it through the discharge line 34 into the truck tank body 8 by way of the discharge spout 35. The discharge line 34 may be made in two or more telescoping sections, or may be made at least in part of flexible hose to be contained on a suitable reel on the vehicle. Such a reel would preferably have its central portion in communication with the discharge spout 35, and would receive the upper end of discharge line 34. An overflow pipe or hose 36 is connected with the upper portion of the tank.

All the material discharged from the catch basin is delivered onto the upper surface of a screen 3'! in the rear portion of the tank body. It is preferred to have the screen 3'! pivotally mounted to the tank body, as shown at 38, 38. When the tank body is in normal position to receive material from the catch basin the screen 31 is raised, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, so that its free, or swinging, end 39 is brought into contact with the water tight tail gate 4|. This relationship is maintained by the chain 42 attached to the screen 31 at the point 43 and supported at 44 on the end of a bracket 45 which forms a 180 extension of the tail gate fill beyond its hinged mounting 46, 46. A locking means for the tail gate may be provided asshown at 41. With the parts in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, all the solid and liquid material discharged from the catch basin. will be deposited upon the upper side of the screen 31, the liquid flowing through into the tank proper, and the solid material being retained in the compartment on top of said screen.

Thus it will be seen that the water in the tank body may be recirculated through the screen II and the outlet 1 into the pump 5 for continued cleaning operations, the solid material progressively being accumulated on the screen 31. When it is desired to unload the accumulation of solid material the latch 47 may be lllifastened and the tank body, which is indicated generally at 8, may be tilted in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 5. When the tank body 8 is elevated in its forward portion and swings about the pivot 48 on the truck chassis, the tail gate 4| will swing open, allowing the screen 31 to fall into the position shown in Figure 3 with the lower edge 39 resting on the bottom of the tank. In this position the solid material will fall out by gravity and the screen will be cleaned by the action of the water flowing through it from the forward part of the tank body. Figure 5 shows the parts in the position assumed for such a dumping operation, but for simplicity does not illustrate the means to elevate the truck body, which may be of any conventional type commonly used on dump trucks.

A modification is illustrated in Figure 6, wherein the screen 3'! is permanently attached to the truck tank body 8 in the position illustrated, as for instance, by means of the brackets 38 bolted or riveted to the tank body. The position of the screen 31 in Figure 6 corresponds to the position of the screen 31 in Figure 2, and the loading action is the same, since the lower end 39' of the screen 31 contacts the tail gate 4|. However, in dumping when the tank body is elevated and the tail gate opened, as shown in Figure 5, the screen 3''! will not change its position with relation to the tank body 8, but will discharge the solid contents by the action of gravity, and the screen will be cleaned by reason of the fact that a considerable volume of water will flow through it in addition to the water escaping between the lower end 39' and the bottom of the tank body.

Thus it will be seen that the present invention provides a very simple construction, easy to make and easy to keep clean in operation, for separating the solid material from the liquid in catch basin cleaning operations. The construction illustrated, besides being economical in itself, simplifies the procedure of cleaning operations and saves labor because it insures an ample supply of water being always available for cleaning operations and permits the complete removal of the accumulated material by dumping, without manual labor in scraping and cleaning out lodged accumulations in the truck tank body.

The specific embodiments shown are intended to be illustrative only, and the invention is not to be considered as limited thereto, except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning catch basins and the like, comprising a vehicle chassis, a tank body mounted on said chassis, a water tight tail gate hingedly connected on its upper side to said body, a screen hinged to said body in the upper portion thereof and being of a width to span said tank from side to side so as to constitute a movable partition therein, said screen ina first limiting position of its movement having its lower edge substantially against the inner surface of said tail gate and in a second limiting position having its lower edge resting on the bottom of said tank body, means attached to said gate and connected to said screen for retaining said screen in said first position when said tail gate is closed and operable to permit said screen to assume said second position when said tail gate is opened, and means for discharging material onto said screen.

2. Apparatus for cleaning catch basins and the like, comprising a vehicle chassis, a tank body mounted on said chassis, a water tight tail gate hinged at its upper edge to said body, a screen in said body pivoted at its upper edge to swing in said tank and spanning the internal width of said tank so as to form a partition therein, and means on said tail gate normally holding the lower swinging edge of said screen substantially against said tail gate when the latter is closed, said means releasing said screen to permit the swinging edge thereof to contact with the bottom of said tank when said tail gate is opened.

3. Apparatus for cleaning catch basins and the like comprising a vehicle chassis, a tank body mounted on said chassis, said tank body being tiltable for rear dumping, means for tilting said tank body, a water tight tail gate hinged at its top to said body, a partition screen hinged adjacent its upper edge to said tank, said screen being of a width as to engage with the opposite side walls of said tank, the lower edge of said screen adapted to engage with said tail gate in the raised position thereof so as to form a compartment above the floor of said tank, means normally holding said screen in said position, said means releasing said screen for limited down-- ward pivotal movement in response to tilting of said body and opening of said tail gate.

4. Apparatus for cleaning catch basins and the like, comprising a vehicle chassis, a tank body mounted on said chassis, said tank body being tiltable for rear dumping, a water tight tail gate hinged at its top to said body and adapted to swing open by gravity when said body is tilted, a partition screen forming a compartment in said tank above the bottom thereof, said tail gate forming the rear wall of said compartment, means carried by said body for discharging material onto said screen, means for tilting said tank body,

5. Apparatus for cleaning catch basins and the like, comprising a vehicle chassis, a tank body mounted on said chassis, said tank body having a hinged, water tight tail gate, a partition screen in said tank substantially engaging the opposite side walls of said tank and said tail gate forming a compartment above the bottom of said tank and adjacent said tail gate, a discharge pipe carried by said body and adapted to discharge material into said compartment, and a fluid outlet in the bottom of said tank remote from said compartment. v

6. Apparatus for cleaning catch basins and th 'ke, comprising a vehicle chassis, a tank body mounted on said chassis, said tank body having a hinged, water tight tail gate, a partition screen in said tank substantially engaging the opposite side walls of tank and said tail gate forming a compartment above the bottom of said tank and adjacent said tail gate, a discharge pipe carried by said body and adapted to discharge material into said compartment, and a fluid outlet in the bottom of said tank remote from said compartment for supplying fluid for said discharge pipe, and means to prevent fluid adjacent the bottom. of said tank from entering said outlet.

7. Apparatus for removing material from catch basins and the like comprising a vehicle chassis, a vehicle tank body tiltable for rear dumping, means for tilting said tank body, an hydraulic ejector pump fer removing said material, a com partment in said tank and above the bottom thereof for receiving said material, a discharge pipe for carrying said material from said pump to said compartment, a fluid outlet in the bottom of said tank, a severalole connection between said outlet and said eject-er pump for supplying fluid from said tank to said ejector pump, and means for breaking the connection between said outlet and said pump whensaid tank body is tilted for dumping and for reestablishing said connection when said tank body is lowered.

8. Apparatus for cleaning catch basins and the like, comprising a vehicle chassis, a tank body mounted on said chassis, said tank body having a hinged substantially water tight tail gate, a perforated partition in said tank substantially engaging the opposite side walls of said tank and said tail gate and forming a compartment above the bottom of said tank and adjacent saidtail gate, and a discharge pipe carried by said body and adapted to discharge material into said compartment.

GEORGE W. OTTERSON. 

